Veterans now fighting new set of battles

Brian and Angela Mullennex are survivors. That's more than can be said of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day. The Department of Veterans Affairs is making a lot of progress in meeting the mental health needs of veterans, but that number shows it still has a lot of catching up to do.

The federal government has had a long and inglorious habit of pretending that mental strain among service members did not exist. Anyone who has seen the movie "Patton" remembers the general slapping and berating a soldier who had what then was called battle fatigue.

John Huston, at the behest of the Army Signal Corps, made a film about psychiatric care for World War II soldiers in which the narrator said, "Twenty percent of our army casualties suffered psychoneurotic symptoms: a sense of impending disaster, hopelessness, fear and isolation."

The Army, claiming the film invaded the privacy of the soldiers, suppressed it until 1981. The releases Huston had obtained from the soldiers disappeared.

And this was World War II, a conflict in which the enemy was clearly identified, the civilian population was friendly and the people back home almost universally in support.

Imagine how much greater the stress must have been in Iraq, where every civilian, even a child, was a potential enemy. "You couldn't trust anybody. You just didn't know," Brian Mullennex said.

"The kids spoke no English, but they knew what the middle finger meant, and they knew every cuss word," Angela Mullennex said.

Nevertheless, Brian said, you were expected to cope. "You just didn't mention it. It's a whole stigma attached to it. ? If you want to advance up the ranks, you don't show weakness."

As detailed in John Boyle's page one reporting today, both Brian, an infantryman and later a medical supply sergeant, and Angela, a medic, have attempted suicide.

Both attempts failed, and now the two appear on the way to renewed health, thanks to the staff at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Each has undergone therapy, and Angela is on medications. They speak to law enforcement officers about handling troubled veterans. Brian had fought with officers in what he now believes was an attempted "suicide by cop."

The VA is making major strides to make up for lost time. The department is adding 1,600 mental health clinicians and 300 support staff nationwide, including 14 at the George Medical Center.

The VA has logged 26,000 "rescues" of veterans at high risk for suicide. One of the first steps is a "safety plan" geared at steering the veteran away from depression. "Anything that's designed to calm yourself and distract from the immediate crisis is good," said Katelyn Mayfield, a suicide prevention case manager.

Treatment may follow. "If it's a substance abuse issue, we can help them get in a program," said Melanie Hobden Holmes, a suicide prevention coordinator. "If it's depression, maybe we get them referred to a group that addresses depression.

"It's their choice to go into treatment or not."

No one has to convince the Mellennexes of the VA's value. "Self-medication doesn't work," Brian said.

"There's no shame in seeking help. The programs are there, and the VA is excellent."

"I'd tell people not to be afraid," Angela said. "And that's coming from two people who don't trust anything."

The VA has a Veterans Crisis Line (800-273-8255) to help veterans who are having suicidal thoughts or other crisis issues. It is staffed 24/7.

Or call the George Medical Center at 298-7911, ext. 3155 or 5033, to set up counseling or other care.

If you're a veteran who is having trouble coping, pick up the phone and call. Don't be a statistic. Be a survivor.

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Veterans now fighting new set of battles

Brian and Angela Mullennex are survivors. That's more than can be said of the 22 veterans who commit suicide each day.